Shoe-cleaner.



L. R. VAN KIRK.

SHOE CLEANER. LPPLIOATION FILED JULY a1. 1908.

Patented May 11, 1909.

Witness THE nexus PETERS 6a., wAsnuvcrou, n, a:

LLOYD R. VAN KIRK, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

SHOE-CLEANER.

Application filed July 31, 1908.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 11, 1909.

Serial No. 446,326.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LLOYD R. VAN KIRK, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe- Cleaners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descri tion of the invention, such as will enab e other skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. 1

This invention relates to shoe cleaning devices; and has for its object to provide a simply constructed device adapted to be detachably coupled to a supporting structure, preferably to the door mat, in convenient position for use.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in two brushes spaced apart and adapted to bear upon a supporting structure and with the bristle portions directed inwardly and the heads of the brushes connected by a U-shaped wire adapted to bear beneath the supporting structure and connected at the ends respectively to the brush heads.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereafter shown and described, and then specifically pointed out in the claims; and in the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a plan view partly in section of the improved device. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the coupling member detached.

The improved device comprises two brushes spaced apart each comprising a head 10 and bristle portions 11 with the latter directed inwardly, said brushes being disposed upon a supporting structure, preferably a door mat, a portion of which is indicated at 12.

The brush heads are connected by a U shaped wire 13 adapted to bear beneath the structure 12 and with the ends connected at 14-15 to the brush heads, the wire having loops 15-16 formed therein adjacent to the brush heads, the inner portions of the loops being nearest to the sides 14E-15 and with the downwardly bent portions of the loops bearing upon the base 12. The pressure is thus increased and the holding force correspondingly increased between the structure 12 and the brush heads.

The improved device is adapted to be attached to one edge of a door mat, and may be readily adapted to all the various forms of mats manufactured, either of the hemp, cocoa, wire, or other forms, the bends or loops 16-17 enabling the device to be firmly secured and locked in position upon the mat, as the bearing portions of the loops press into the mat material, and thus effectually prevent its becoming loosened therefrom under the pressure to which it will be subjected when in use.

The bristle portions will be spaced sufficiently to bear at their confronting ends with considerable friction upon the sides of the shoe when insert-ed between them, so that when the shoe is drawn back and forth between the brushes the side edges will be thoroughly cleansed and adhering mud and dust effectually removed.

The resiliency of the wire support holds the brushes yieldably, in position, and causes them to press with sufiicient force against the shoe to produce the required results.

Any desired construction of brush may be employed, and with the bristle portions formed of any suitable material, and the brushes may be of any suitable size, and it is not desired therefore to limit the invention to any specific size or form of brush.

The improved device is simple in construction, can be inexpensively manufactured, and applied without material structural changes to anyof the various forms of door mats manufactured.

What is claimed, is

As a new article, two brushes spaced apart with their bristle portions directed inwardly, and a connecting member comprising a resilient wire bent centrally into U shape and extending beneath the brushes, with the sides of the U portion extending longitudinally of the brushes and spaced therefrom with the terminals of the connecting member bent upon themselves, and connected to the heads of the brushes.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

LLOYD R. VAN KIRK.

Vfitnesses E. T. Snon'rr, r O. P. SHROUT 

